Show-fixture



(No Model.) QSheets-Sheet 1. B. .PRIENDLIGH.

SHOW FIXTURE. No. 488,757. I Patented Dec. 27, 1-892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. FRIENDLIOH.

snow FIXTURE.

No. 488,757. Patented Dec. 27, 1892.

fiA f/ i I NITE "rn'rns ATENT rF SHOW-FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,757, dated December2'7, 1892.

Application filed April 26, 1892. Serial No. 430,671. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMANUEL FRIENDLIOH, of Kansas City, Jackson county,Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShow-Fixtures, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof.

My invention relates to appliances for displaying merchandise in thewindows and other parts of stores, and the objects of my invention areto produceashow-fixture which shall be simple, strong, durable, andinexpensivein construction, and capableof being readily put together andtaken apart, and which shall also possess great capacity forholdin g themerchandise or goods, and which, furthermore, shall be adapted foreffective location 1, but showing certain modified features ofconstruction. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is adetached perspective View of one of the devices for connecting the endsof the supporting-chains. Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of oneof the skeleton-links shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is a detachedperspective View of amodified form of the attaching-device shown in Fig.5. Fig. 8 is a detached plan view of a modified form of supporting-link.Fig. 9 is a detached perspective view of a further modification of theattaching devices for the supporting-chains.

Fig. 10 is a detached perspective view of astill further modification ofthe attaching device. Fig. 11 shows apeculiar form of screw, used inattaching the nuts to a suitable support.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4., let 1 designate the bottom and 2 the top ofthe show-window; these parts being so indicated simply for purposes ofillustration, and it being understood that the part 1 may be a counteror shelf, or other suitable support, while the part 2 may be a ceiling,or any structure located above the part 1. Into the part 2 is drivenvertically a screw 3, the outer portion of which, adjacent to the head,is formed angular, as shown at 4, for the purpose of receiving a wrenchor spanner for turning the screw so as .to force the same into the part2 or so as to wholly or partially withdraw the same from said part, asdesired.

Between the outer terminus of the angular port-ion 40f the screw 3 andthe head of said screw is interposed a plain cylindrical portion, 5, fora purpose to be hereinafter explained, and from the opposite end of'thisangular portion 4 extends the externally screwthreaded stem 6 of thescrew. As shown, two of these screws 3 are driven into the part 2 so asto depend downward therefrom, and two other and precisely similar screws3 are driven into the part 1, so as to project vertically upwardtherefrom. The outer end of each of these screws is embraced by a nut 7,which is shown as of quadrangular form, but which may be of octagonahorany other polygonal form, as desired. Each of these nuts is formed witha central vertical bore 8 one end of which is formed with an enlargedcountersink 9 to receive the head of the screw 3.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 5, l0 designates a U- shaped bail which is formedpreferably of stout wire, and the ends of which embrace opposite sidesof the nut 7; the extremities of the arms loosely surrounding two screws11 which are inserted into opposite sides of the nut 7. It is to beobserved that each of the two lower nuts 7 are located perpendicularlybelow each of the upper nuts 7 and that the bail 10 of the lower nutsare inverted, while the bail 10 of the upper nuts are reverted.

Between each pair of nuts 7 is interposeda the outer ends of theconnecting-piece.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the said vertical flexible supports 12 are shown ascomposed of a number of skeleton links 14:, one of which is showndetached in Fig. 6. Each of these links 14 is formed of a single pieceof stout wire which is so bent as to form two vertical parallel arms 15the upper ends of which terminate in hooks 16. The lower ends of thesetwo arms 15 are bent upwardly, as at 17, so as to form two innerparallel vertical arms18. The upper ends of the arms 18 are bent uponthemselves one or more times to form an opening or eye 19, into whichone end of the corresponding supporting rod or bar 13 is inserted.

In setting up the fixture, after the nuts 7 and their bail 10 are placedin position, a V- shaped connecting-piece 20 is first attached to eachbail 10; the bend of said connectingpiece embracing the horizontal armof the bail,and a transverse pin 21 extendingthrough A secondconnecting-piece 22, having turned ends 23, is connected to thecorresponding pin. 21, by bending one of its bends 23 around the pin,andthe opposite bend 23 of said second connecting-piece 22 is then causedto surround either the upper or lower horizontal arm of the loop 19 ofthe corresponding link 14, according as said link isat the upper orlower end of the flexible support 12. The hooks 16 of one link areengaged with the bends 11 of the succeedinglink, until the'desiredlength has been given to the flexible support 12.

It will be seen that in setting up thefixture above described, thescrews 3 are free to be turned in the nuts '7, either by'a suitablewrench or spanner applied to the angular portions 40f the screws, or bya screw-driver applied to the nicks in the headset the screws, and thatafter the screws have been properly inserted, the fixture is retainedstronglyin its required position, so as to properly support the goods tobe displayed; such goods being placed upon the bars or rods 13.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a slightly modified form of the bail for the nut7; the bail 24 being, in this instance also of stout wire, and having askeleton hook 25 formed in its middle. The hooks 25 engage the upper orlower arms of the loops 19, according as the bails are at the upper orlower ends of the flexible Supports 12.

in Figs. 3, 4:, and 8,1 have shown a modified form of the links whichcompose the flexible supports. Each link 26, is, in this instance,formed of a strip of suitable flexible sheetmetal; the body-portion ofthe blank from which the link is formed being thus of elongatedrectangular form, as shown in Fig.8. At each'end of the body-portion ofthe blank is formed areduced portion or neck 27 at the outer end ofwhich is formed a transverse skeleton enlargement or head 28. An openingor eye 29 is formed through each end of the body-portion of the blank,as shown, and when the link is completed its blank is doubled uponitself, at the point indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 8, so as toreceive the end of the corresponding supporting bar or rod 13. In thisinstance, no second connecting-piece 22 is necessary; the bend of eachlink passing through the skeleton heads 28 of the succeeding link, andthe'bends of the upper and lower links embracing the pins 21 ot theupper and lower V-shaped connecting-pieces 20. In Fig. 9 I have shown afurther modification of the construction of the attaching devices whichare carried by the nut 7. In thls instance two arms 30 are employed,instead of the bails 10 and 24, said arms being of straight form andeach at one end loosely embracing the screw 11, and also at the1ropposite ends similarly embracing the ends ot: a pair of studs 31 whichproject from opposite sides of a disk 32. At opposite points of the disk32, and intermediately-of the studs31 project outwardly two studs 33which. are-embraced loosely by two cars 34 which are formed atoppositeends ofthe lower margin of a connecting-piece 35. The uppermargin of this connecting-piece 35 is formed with a hooked bend 36,which is designed to engagethecorresponding pin 21. It will thus be seenthat universal movement is permitted to the connecting-piece 35, so asto enable said connecting-piece to adapt itself to the'requirement-s ofa great variety of situations.

I In Fig. 10 1 haveshown a still furthermodi- :fication of theattachments carried by the nuts 7; whereby the device is adapted. tobe'placed i ncorners andother similarly secluded places. In thisinstance, two arms 37 are secured, by two screws 11, to each side of thenut,.and the upper ends of these arms unite in tegrallywi-th arectangular frame-piece-38. Four connecting-pieces 39 are connected tothe four arms of the frame 38, by hooked lower margins -40 :whichloosely embrace the arms of said framelpiece. Theupper ends of theseconnecting- ;pieces 39 are formed withsimilarhooked-portions '40 whichare designed ,to engage'the 'pins'21 of the connecting-pieces 20.

From the-above description, it will be'seen that I have producedashow-fixture which-is simple, strong, durable, and inexpensive inconstruction, capable of being :placed inwa great variety of situations,and of properly displaying a great variety of goods, and which can :bereadily setup and taken down,-as:de-.

attaching-screws passing through the nutsand into the upper and lowerparts of anadjacent structure, substantially as set forth.

2. A show-fixture, comprising a number of flexible supports composed ofa number of inported at theirends in said oppositely disposed eyes, Withswiveled nuts or fastenings located at each end of each chain throughthe medium of pivotal ball connections, substantially as described. o

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

EMANUEL FRIENDLIOH.

Witnesses:

JNo. L. CONDRON, H. E. PRICE.

